Proctor pushes Dr. Phillips in win over Winter Park | Video

Panthers defeat Wildcats 38-7

The way Dr. Phillips head coach Rodney Wells figures it, when you're sitting on a ticking time bomb, there's no reason to play it safe and sit on a six-point lead.

With the ball at its own 20 and only 28 seconds remaining in the first half, undefeated DP let junior quarterback Rudy Norwood throw caution to the wind against Winter Park on Friday night. Wisely, he threw to dynamic receiver Roderick Proctor.

The senior breakaway artist took a short pass and turned it into an 80-yard touchdown play that propelled the Panthers (10-0) to a 38-7 win over the visiting Wildcats (8-2).

Proctor scored with 12 seconds showing to give DP a 20-7 halftime advantage and momentum it never relinquished in the lopsided duel of district champions.

"I was shocked coach called that," Norwood said after the game.

Proctor said the same, then added, "I knew I had to make a play for my team."

Proctor had four receptions for 126 yards and two TDs, giving him 15 scoring catches for the year.

Wells said, "We had too much time, too much speed on the field to run out the clock. Fortunately, we got it to the best playmaker out there."

DP's defense did not allow points and ensured that Winter Park would not mount a threat. The Panthers sacked two Wildcats quarterbacks a total of six times for minus 44 yards and had five additional tackles for losses.

Dr. Phillips, ranked No. 2 in the Sentinel Super 16, opened the second half with an 80-yard TD drive to blow the game open against an opponent ranked No. 8 in the area rankings. Sophomore running back Alvin Bryant scored his second TD to cap that drive.

Bryant started in place of banged-up senior Kerry Bernard and gained 70 yards on nine carries.

Winter Park's Gabe McClary took the opening kickoff at the 1-yard line, dodged early pursuit and found a gaping hole on his way to a 99-yard TD return. The play, like Proctor's score, took only 16 seconds.

Dr. Phillips recorded its fourth 10-0 regular season finish in five years and carries confidence into next week's opening round of the Class 8A state playoffs.

PATs were the Panthers' only problem area. DP had three conversion kicks blocked and failed on a 2-point run attempt.